Ivory Coast defender Wilfried Singo sobbed on the bench after a devastating hamstring injury ended his World Cup, while Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron became the first player in tournament history to be shown a red card for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent.
Singo, 25, clutched his left hamstring and signalled to the sideline before coming off in the 82nd minute of Ivory Coast’s 2-1 defeat to Germany in Toronto. The Galatasaray star sat with his shirt covering his face, consoled by teammates and staff. Specific details of the injury have not yet emerged, but recovery timelines for hamstring tears can range from weeks to months, meaning the defender is almost certain to miss the rest of the tournament.
“Ivory Coast's Wilfried Singo sobs after hamstring injury ends his World Cup; Paraguay's Miguel Almiron is first sent off for covering mouth.”
Until his forced exit, Singo had been enjoying a strong game from right-back, bombing up and down the pitch. Franck Kessie had put the underdogs ahead on the half-hour, but Germany’s super-sub Deniz Undav equalised in the 68th minute. To add insult to injury, Singo was forced to watch from the dugout as Undav bagged his second – the match-winner – in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Despite the defeat, Ivory Coast remain handily placed to progress after grinding out a late win over Ecuador in their opening match. They play their final Group E game against Curacao on June 25.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron has broken his silence after becoming the first player at the World Cup to be sent off for covering his mouth while talking to a rival. The incident, which occurred during Paraguay’s match, has sparked debate, with Almiron now facing a ban.
This year’s World Cup is like no other, with a record-breaking 48 nations competing. England manager Thomas Tuchel is hoping to end a 60-year drought, while footballing legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are likely making their final World Cup appearance.